It was finally here. The day before Christmas break. I made my way into the Great hall for breakfast and sat down next to Ginny.
"Hey, Neville!" she said brightly.
"Hi Ginny," I replied. "What are you doing over Christmas break? Are you going anywhere?"
She shook her head. "Nope. I'm just going to go home and be with my family. You?"
Before I could reply, someone came and sat down on my other side. "Hello Neville. Hi, Ginny," said the dreamy voice that belonged to that person.
"Hey, Luna!" said Ginny.
"Hi Ginny! Hello, Neville!" said Luna brightly.
"Oh, no! I still have to pack!" said Ginny, alarmed. She jumped up and ran out of the Great Hall.
"I can't believe it's almost Christmas!" said Luna. I could tell she was excited. I wasn't, though. I was going to miss Luna very much. I looked down at my porridge. (I had been making a smiley face in it with the cinnamon.) I looked back up at Luna. "Walk with me," I suggested. We stood up and left the Great Hall. (The porridge sat forgotten.)
"What are you going to do over vacation?" I asked Luna.
She shrugged. "Oh you know…I'll be at home and visit with Daddy. I haven't told him about the Crumple-Horned Snorkack yet; he's going to be so excited!" Her large misty eyes shone. We were alone in the corridor. I think everyone else was at breakfast.
The light in Luna's eyes went out. She looked down. "But I expect it will be very lonely. Daddy will be away most of the time at a press conference for the Quibbler. So I'll be all by myself…Maybe I'll go and visit the Weasleys…" She looked up at me. "I'm going to miss you, Neville." She took a step towards me, her face close to mine. I drew in my breath and her eyes closed.
Just then, a bunch of giggling third-year Hufflepuff girls came around the corner. Luna pulled away, embarrassed, and turned and fled down the corridor. "See you on the train, Neville!"
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Later, on the train, I sat in an empty compartment, waiting for Ginny and Luna. They came in together, laughing about some joke. (I never found out what it was though.) They sat down, and the train began to move.
About an hour later, the train came to a sudden screeching halt. Ginny and I looked at each other. Was it a dementor again? I had no wish to relive what had happened when I was thirteen.
There was a loud commotion outside. I got up and poked my head out to see what was going on. My eyes widened and I quickly sat down again.
Two large men pushed their way into out compartment. They both had their wands out. I could see a tattoo of a skull with a snake sticking out of its mouth on the forearm of the one nearest me.
Death Eaters.
Ginny screamed; Luna's eyes widened. I have no idea what I looked like but I'm prepared to bet a million Galleons that it wasn't pretty. I felt all the color drain from my face.
Ginny whipped out her own wand. "What do you want?" she cried. The bigger of the two men, Rowle, glared at her. "We want Loony Lovegood," he growled.
Luna let out a terrified squeak. I took out my own wand. The other man narrowed his eyes at Luna. "So that would be you, I presume, pretty?" He grabbed her arm. "Your father's becoming too outspoken in his stupid magazine. So you're coming with us." They dragged her out, each holding an arm. She was struggling and screaming and trying to hex them the whole time. Ginny and I tried too; believe me, but it just wasn't enough. Ginny's spells all missed the Death Eaters by a hair. I missed them too, but one of my spells hit Zacharias Smith and turned him into an enormous Jelly Slug.
"No!" I cried desperately. "Luna!"